Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe is relishing the prospect of taking on the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday.
Van der Merwe is determined to make the most of a rare opportunity in the Boks' starting XV after he was elevated to the run-on side when first-choice second-row Eben Etzebeth was banned for two weeks for head-butting Wallabies counterpart Nathan Sharpe in Perth last week.
"The way the world works you have to take your chances but it's very unfortunate for Eben," he told Supersport.
"I think that I am in good shape and I think I am playing well.
"I have had an impact role in the previous tests and I am looking forward to bringing my playing style at the Bulls to the game. I want to show that I am capable of being a starting lock."
Van der Merwe knows that the clash with the All Blacks will be the Springboks' toughest assignment of the year but although the odds are stacked against them, he believes a win is not impossible.
"Every rugby player wants to test himself against the best in the world and that is the challenge that we face on Saturday," he said.
"New Zealand in New Zealand is probably one of the biggest challenges that there is.
"The belief that we can win is definitely there. We learnt a lot in the past two tests and we have got better each week.
"The guys are starting to understand one another and our training this week was probably the best we have had on tour.
"If you pull on a Springbok jersey then you go out to win and that is what we will be doing on Saturday.
"Myself and (flank) Francois Louw are in the team to bring a bit of experience and we are going out to win."
The 27-year-old is looking forward to locking the scrum with Bulls team-mate Juandre Kruger.
"I am very happy to be playing with Juandre," said van der Merwe.
"Our line-outs worked well during Super Rugby and I think we can form a good partnership at four and five."
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